Regional Characteristics: Dense rain forests surrounded Bolu city is appropriate for all kinds of tourism activity. Abant Lake, whose environment has a rich plant cover, is drawing attention as a picnic and resort place during summers and an appropriate place for winter sports during winter. Abant Lake surrounding accommodation and nutrition possibilities can be benefited.

Take Off Runway: Abant Mountains have more than one take off runways appropriate for hillside parachute. Generally it is performed on the hills surrounding Örencik Plateau, near to Abant Lake, wide, plain and fully covered with grass.

Regional Characteristics: Egirdir which is appropriate for various tourism activities with Eğirdir lake and island, has very appropriate hills for paragliding parachute. Süleyman Demirel University Aerial Club is performing training flights on these hills.

Certificate: Sportive aimed equipped divers, should have the sufficiency certificate (diving card) issued by Underwater Sports, Life Guarding and Water Ski Federation. But certificates issued by organizations educating under international standards, are also valid. These certificates, can be turned into sufficiency certificate (diving card) with application to federation. Sportive dives, diving disciplinary authorizations, technical specifications and authorization certificates of Turks are issued complying with the principles determined and accepted by Youth and sports General Directorate, Underwater Sports Life Guarding and Water Ski Federation. For sportive aimed dives of foreign divers, they should be a member of International Underwater Sports Federation or national organizations or have a certificate issued by authorized organizations or institutions of their countries.

Responsibility: Diving and life security of the divers belongs to divers, but all of the responsibilities of course participant’s during training belongs to lecturer. In dives of Turks, taking guide skin diver is under request. Foreign divers should take guide skin diver during their dives. During diving, protection of cultural and natural wealth, maintaining of property and life security of divers during diving, are under the responsibility and obligation of guide skin diver.

But all kinds of problems exist before diving and due to the personal mistakes of divers who violates the diving rules is not under the responsibility of skin diver.

Material: There is no equipment limit during sportive aimed dives. Whilst equipped sportive dives, balance vest (life vest, BC), tube pressure monitor, depth monitor and time hour usage is obligatory. But usage of lifting balloon or same aimed materials are forbidden.

Decompressed dives are absolutely forbidden. Presence of high pressurized tube filling compressor in land or in ships, which took required permissions from corresponding authorities during dives is free.

Diving organizing agency, club, establishment, hotel, holiday village, school etc. places as well as ships should provide first aid material in stock. Underwater photographing, video camera usage during dives is free. All kinds of materials for taking picture or video recording can be used.

Material Maintenance: Sportive aimed diving organizing tourism agencies, yacht operators, organizations and institutions as well as underwater clubs should perform the periodic test and maintenance of diving materials (such as tube regulator, balance vest) used and owned by skin divers. These tests can be performed in civil skin diver firm agencies or organizations authorized by Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Ships to be used during dives: During underwater dives, usage of Turk ships is basis. But dives are possible on condition that required permissions should be taken for foreign groups who wishes to dive from their boats as well as foreign divers who come with their ships.

Diving permission: Sportive aimed equipped dives are subjected to permission excluding forbidden zones. Dives, organized to places excluding forbidden zones in group by club, organization or institutions, should be informed to City Tourism Directorates or authorized organization. This information is submitted to Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (or authority within the region) by correspondent organization.

All kinds of equipped sportive dives are subject to permission for foreign divers. Authorities which will issue these permissions are City Tourism Directorate or authorized organizations. One copy of permission forms to be issued will be submitted to Harbor Directorate and one copy of it is submitted to Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (or authority within the region) by permission issuing organization. Permission certificate, whose one copy remains at permission holding organization, should be shown to authorities during controls. Information submission and permission taking is not obligatory during dives with the aim of training as well as two persons friend system dives (excluding forbidden zones).

Falling Zones

Ankara: Administrative center of parachute school, is working under Türkkuşu General Directorate, which is the executive organ of Turkish Aviation Organization in Ankara. Due to being air traffic very dense there is no possibility for frequent falls but in special days and for training of staff parachuting is made.

İnönü: It is the main training center, in which activities of parachute school are densely performed during summer months. It is 40 km away from Eskişehir, and it is one of the regions on which all of the aviation activities at the same time and having training and accommodation facilities.

Efes: It is 70 km away from İzmir, and 15 km away from Kuşadası, and adjacent to Efes ruins and Meryem Ana church, and a touristic falling center hosting to especially parachute competitions with 1760 m long asphalt runway.

This world famous tourist region has the highest number of diving schools in the country, containing many contrasting dive sites. A French military transportation ship at the entrance of Antalya harbour lies at a depth of 20 - 32m. The islands in the open seas around Tekirova has a wonderful array of sea life including huge thornback rays, and is also a good location for cavern diving. During August and September there is a huge amount of tuna fish and seals, and dolphins can be seen throughout the year. Lying 1km from the Antalya Yacht Harbour is the site of a French battleship, San Didier, which sank during the war in 1942. During excavations in 1946 and 1974, a major part of the ship’s cargo was discovered, including ammunition and medical equipment. Although there is little left in the submerged ship, it is still attracting much interest from divers, and permission is required from the Antalya Goverment and Marine Police Department. The area between the beaches of Lara and Konyaalti, are the two biggest in Antalya, has attractive rock formations and sea life between a depth of 14 – 25m. The small island of Sican, a few kilometres from Antalya harbour, is also a popular diving region.

The coast on the west side is relatively shallow and sandy (maximum 8m) but on the northeast side with rocky seabed descends to 22m, which also has a small cavern. Submerged 200m from the coast near Manavgat, east of Antalya, is a B-24 American war plane named Hadley’s Harem, which came down after leaving its base in Cyprus after bombing over Romania in 1944. The cockpit was removed during studies in 1995, and now lies in a private museum in Istanbul. Diving to this particular site requires special permission. In Gelidonya, at the west of Antalya bay, there are the submerged remains of a cargo ship which sank after crashing on the rocks near to what is now known as Taslik cape. During research performed by divers in 1960 to a depth of 28m, the first completed underwater excavation, it was determined that the ship dates back to the 13th century BC. Research in 1994 revealed its Middle Eastern origins, as deduced from the anchor, and excavated items are exhibited in Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum.

Suluin Cavern, in the region of Kirkgoz, used to be a dry area, which is indicated by the stalactites and stalagmites. This plateau around Antalya is travertine, composed of limestone which has dissolved. During research in 1995, the depth of the cavern reaches 83m, with a huge entrance at 45m covered with stalactites, travertine pools and other formations and many water channels off the cave.

Kas

The seas around Kalkan are suited to experienced divers, with species of sea life including sharks, turtles, tuna and thornback rays. Patara has coral and sea sponges, and the Fener waters descend from 11 – 132m, with lively and colourful sights. Oksuz Island is known for its lizard fish, a member of the shark family. 60m off the east coat of Uluburun and 9km southeast of Kas lie the ruins of a cargo ship dating back to the 14th century BC. As a result of dives in 1984 the ship’s cargo, which had slipped to a depth of 61m, was removed and some of it exhibited in the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum today. Near the Greek island of Meis off the coast of Kas, there are the submerged remains of an Italian plane from World War II. Its first sighting is at a depth of 57m, its tail going as far as 70m, and there is still ammunition within the wreckage.

Finike

Gok Cavern near Finike, is one of the deepest in Asia which is accessible to divers. The cavern reaches the seabed and has a wide entrance, and the presence of stalactites indicates that this was once dry.

Kemer

One of the most popular diving areas in the region is the Three Islands, off Tekirova, which has many diver sites and greater depth than Antalya. The wreckage of a submerged ship lying 2km from Kemer Yacht Harbour at a depth of 25m, belongs to a French cargo ship which sank during World War II. It is estimated to have been built in 1896, and has three decks and two warehouses, of which some is still covered in tiles.

Balıkesir&Province

According to rumour, the area around Ayvalik is the location of the lost city of Atlantis – but what is known is the unique diving options especially off Gunes Island, Yuvarlak Island and Kerbela Rocks. The most popular area is the waters off Kiz Island with fascinating underwater fauna from a depth of 19m.

Muğla&Province

Datca

The area around Datca has wonderful diving opportunities with many sharks, dolphins and Mediterranean seals at a depth of between 10-40m, especially around the islands of Kara Incir. There is a good dive point off Esen Island, which is connected to Datca harbour.

Marmaris

There are 52 diving points and a large selection of ancient underwater ruins around the area of Marmaris, including off the coast of Dis (33m), Rodos, Kutuk, Burnu, Cennet Island, Kadirga Feneri and Kargi Island. The steep slope of the seabed off Cennet Island contains especially beautiful plant and animal life.

Bodrum

Bodrum is famous for one of the greatest underwater museums in the world. But it is also known for its great diving opportunities with great depths, colourful sea sponges and caverns. The east wall off Orak Island, exceeding 100m in depth, is a diving haven with beautiful rock formations in the shallow area, which can take easily take a whole day to experience fully. The waters around Kargi and Kocek islands, around 20-30m depth, contain antique ruins, with sea creatures of all sizes and good for macro photography. Catal Island and the coast off Gemitasi are also good dive sites.

Çanakkale&Province

Saros

Saros is a favourite spot for divers due to its proximity to Istanbul, and is full of submerged ruins like Captain Franco, which lies at the entrance of Canakkale Strait in Saros bay. Underwater fauna includes black fauna.

Gokceada and Bozcaada

Because there are no diving schools in Gokceada, the surrounding towns must be used instead. There are submerged ruins from World War I in Kuzu Harbour, and many huge anchors and wrecks of ships between the Mermer Lighthouse and the Anatolian coast. Around these waters are the islands of Orfoz, Karayer and Essek, which are home to a huge range of sea creatures. Canak harbour, Bakla Tasi, Pinar Dere Mermer Cape, and the south of Tuz cape are good points for diving. There is a diving school in Bozcaada, with good tourist facilities, and its waters have interesting plant life and sea creatures.

Mersin

The clear waters of Mersin have many interesting dive sites including the sunken cargo ship at the western cape of Dana island. There is a submerged island northwest of Sancak bay, with large ancient oil jars.

Location:

Regional Characteristics: Due to closeness to Ankara it is possible to benefit from all activities and possibilities within the city. It is the region where aerial clubs of universities in Ankara are training Paragliding . Gölbaşı, is also a promenade place which draw attention of Ankara residents who want get away from city life goes for weekends.

Take Off Runway: Training hill which faces to a wide plain is very appropriate for hillside parachute training due its appropriate altitude and facing wind from all aspects.

Glider, is a flight vessel whose fly is maintained via pull of another motorized plane or rapid pull via a steel rope connected to a motor outside the runway.

Glider is separated from pulling rope by its pilot when it reaches to a certain altitude and begins to its free flight. Its appearance and functions of the commands are similar to the other motorized planes. But air conditions have more importance.

As glider has no motor, it has a special wing design. Special design of its wing profiles, being its wings big and wide gains glider a great rising force. Staying on air and flight of glider is maintained by air files. Air files formed during forward flight position of glider establish turbulence over wings by means of upper wings profile cross section, and also air files form a lifting force under wings due to wing under profile cross section. Thus, staying on air and flight is maintained, it can land and take off within a very short distance.

Cockpit of the glider can be for one or two persons. There are pedal, maintaining vertical axis movement of glider, and lever, maintaining vertical movement of glider in the cockpit. Other than these, there are subsidiary flight commands which will change the speed of the glider. There is also a wireless which will maintain the communication between glider and ground in the glider.

Inventor of the first glider in the world is known as Otto LILIENTAL, who had died during a trial flight on 1886 Otto LILIENTAL. Today glider sport is one of the most liked and performed air sports in Europe and the World. It is one of the oldest air sports in Turkey, Glider Flight School is opened in 1935.

Micro light is a very basic motorized flying vessel. Micro light, which is very easy to learn and use with basic motor structure can be for single or two persons. Command panel and indicator table is not complex. There is no importance of landing and take off runways, it can land and take off within short distances.

Micro light, can fly without motor like delta wings and glider after take off due to its aerodynamic structure. In this way, it can fly for longer hours with smaller amounts of fuel - oil.

Micro light flight is performed in our country like all countries of the world. For flying with micro light in Turkey, you should apply to Turkish Aviation Organization or aviation clubs.

Flight via balloon sport, whose initial existence in the world reaches to the end of 18th century, is also densely drawing attention in our country. For long years, as well as it is performed with the aim of individual sports, city tours with balloons are also performed during regional activities in touristic regions of our country.

Balloon takes off with heating of liquid propane gas filled into it. You can stay on air for long periods with a calm flight under appropriate wind (under 10 km/h). Directing balloon, whose appropriate flight height is between 500 - 1500 feet, altitude gain and loss, change its speed can be made easily by an experienced pilot easily.

Structure of the Balloon

There are propane gas tubes, altimeter, thermometer, wireless for communication with airport, variometer and fire extinguishers in the basket, manufactured from “vimin”, generally a light and synthetic material, and which carries the passangers of the balloon.

Propane tubes, with approximately 20 kg. weight each within the basket, includes propane gas maintaining the expand of the balloon. Each tube maintains an approximately 40 - 45 minutes of flight possibility to the balloon. Total lifting force of the balloon is around 1.700 pounds.

Taking off of the balloon is maintained with heating of propane gas filled into the balloon via furnaces under it. Furnaces can be 2 or 3 pieces according to the volume of the balloon. Heat within the balloon should never exceed 120 degrees.

For maintaining landing with stopping flight, red rope is pulled within it. In this way, activated falling valve maintains the air within it run out rapidly. In case of insufficiency of emptying speed of the internal air emergency hole at the top of the balloon is opened.

Flight Rules for Foreigners

Prior to the flight via balloon, air vessel to be flight registration sign, flight aim, flight date, flight hour, flight region is informed and applied to Ministry of Communication, Civil Aviation General Directorate.

In case of a flight via balloon exceeding 15 days in our country; licenses of foreign pilots should be validated by Ministry of Communication, Civil Aviation General Directorate.

Adress :Ulaştırma Bakanlığı
Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü
Bosna Hersek cad. No:5 06338
Emek-ANKARA

Tel: (312)212 1430
Fax: (312)212 4684

Delta wings is a single person flight vehicle which can fly with wind and other air impacts and has no motor. Take off, stay on air and take off area is similar to paragliding . But there is more training period for flight. There is a person connected parachute for security.

Flight Regions

Delta wing sport can also be performed at the places where paragliding can be performed.

Structure

Wings delta wing has approximately 25 - 30 kg weight, and 10 wing long when it is opened. (folded up standard 4 m) There are beginner, intermediate and advanced class wings. Beginner class training wings are used during training, when experience gained intermediate class wings can be used for flight. But for advanced level models, long time experience and flights are required. Wing is speed up when you come through advanced level in models, and control of the wing become harder.

Take Off beginning to flight in our country, is to run with shouldering wings from flight hill under appropriate weather conditions. For gaining altitude, generally there must be hill facing, in other words coming from opposite direction, winds are required. In another method thermal, meaning hot air columns ascending from ground, are used. While this hot air is ascending it rises delta circulating within it together.